All Blacks and Lions name sides for crucial 2nd Test

June 29, 2005

The All Blacks and Lions have both announced their starting lineups for their crucial 2nd Test this Saturday.

The All Blacks, who ran away convincing 21-3 victors in last weekends’ 1st Test, make three changes to the backline.

Mils Muliaina starts at fullback in place of Leon MacDonald. Rico Gear comes in on the wing for Doug Howlett. And Byron Kelleher takes over the scrumhalf position from Justin Marshall. MacDonald and Marshall are moved onto the bench and should come on as late replacements, while test veteran Howlett, who had a fairly quiet 1st Test, is dropped altogether. The Hurricanes explosive center Ma’a Nonu steps up to take his place on the bench.

There is very little difference in quality between the changes. Muliaina was last years' form fullback, and Rico Gear was New Zealand’s best winger in the Super 12 comp. Both were very unlucky to miss selection last week.

Kelleher offers a different game than the veteran Marshall. If he doesn’t possess the veteran’s experience and savvy leadership, Kelleher is nevertheless a feisty competitor with a quicker delivery to his backline. Kelleher was also a vital part of the All Blacks all-world 45-6 demolition of France in Paris last November, and coach Graham Henry doubtlessly thought he deserved the start. It is also apparent that with Marshall departing for Leeds Tykes in the U.K. following the series, Henry wants the understudy to get more Test experience at the highest level. There is total confidence in Kelleher, but if the backline doesn't ignite, expect a hook and quick return to Marshall early in the 2nd half. Wounded pride means nothing to Kiwis when there's a Test series on the line.

The forward pack is rewarded for their 1st Test heroics and remains unchanged. Anton Oliver, the hooker who was all-but-given the job of starting in the Lions series until an injury to his calf and ankle in the final weeks of the Super 12 competition, will miss the entire series and is out indefinitely, perhaps for the rest of the season.

UPDATE: All Black tighthead prop Carl Hayman has been ruled out with an infected toe. His place has been taken by Crusaders' Greg Somerville, with Campbell Johnstone promoted to the bench.

The overall selection looks good, with minimal tinkering, and just enough attention that the team shouldn’t stagnate and fall into complacency. There is still a huge series to win, and changes should keep all players on their toes, give Clive Woodward something to think about, and provide additional motivation for the All Blacks.

The Lions, meanwhile, are making wholesale changes.

"It is time to shake things up,” says Sir Clive.

Only four of the 15 starters from the 1st Test are back starting in their original positions. Brian O’Driscoll and his dislocated shoulder (and hurt feelings) are out for the rest of the series. Jonny Wilkinson moves in from center, where he looked barely average last week, and slots into his usual berth at fly-half. It is a calculated gamble, based more upon reputation than form, but of course his match-winning boot is a decisive factor for selection.

The Lions forward pack has been overhauled. Their lack of mobility and pace last weekend was badly exposed by the All Blacks. Where the AB pack was consistently holding onto possession and making gains over the advantage line, the Lions looked bereft of ideas.

Geritol-sipping flanker Neil Back, who started the last Test and was invisible matched against Richie McCaw, has been dropped altogether. He doesn’t even make the replacements bench.

Clive Woodward has heard the critics – including All Black coaches Henry and assistant Steve Hansen – and selected more forwards from the Six Nations champion Wales. Henry and Hansen have said repeatedly that the Welsh players have been the outstanding form players of the past season as well as the current tour – which is certainly true to even a casual observer.

One speculates however, whether Woodward is playing into the hands of All Black mind games. Both Henry and Hansen were former Wales coaches – how much they know about the weaknesses and tendencies of the new additions remains to be seen, but one suspects they've got the book. It’s true the new Welsh additions are the form players in the massive Lions squad, and Woodward always promised he would select upon current form. But Henry and Hansen might just be ready to expose the lot of them with some tricks up their sleeves.

There is a possibility that over-confidence and complacency will creep into the All Blacks squad. The new Lions combinations haven't had a lot of game time together, but that could help rather than hinder their chances if Henry's preparation is caught by surprise. And surely the Lions nightmare lineout can’t be as awful as last week. Another factor that can't be overlooked is the drama of the Brian O’Driscoll injury – engineered and whipped into hysteria by Woodward and team propagandist Alistair Campbell – which appears designed to take the heat off his own players and distract the All Blacks camp.

All of these things – plus a raised level of intensity and a couple lucky bounces – could dramatically reverse the fortunes of last Saturday and set up a crucial 3rd Test decider next week.

It remains equally possible that the O’Driscoll fiasco, with the day-after-day paranoid accusations directed against AB skipper Tana Umaga, might backfire and galvanize the All Blacks. The players have been angered by the sideshow, and they’ll be eager to put the wood to Woodward’s Lions.

Woodward will be hoping for a tight game played in the All Black half, happy to play for penalties and have Wilkinson casually slot them and tick over the points.

But if the All Black forwards can play with the same intensity as last week and secure 50/50 possession and territory, the All Black backline should provide the vital difference, especially if the paddock is dry.

Long-range forecast for Wellington game night looks like there could be more rain. Let’s hope it holds off and we get a great exhibition of vigorous skilled continuity rugby.

For rugby fans in North America that want to catch this incredible series, there are a variety of options available.

The games are broadcast live online -- and archived thereafter -- through Mediazone for a small fee of $4.99 per game. They also have annual subscription fees. I was skeptical about this service at first, since the window in my computer seemed too small, certainly a lot smaller than a TV set. But sitting up at a computer the same way I am typing right now, has been a revelation. The games are clear and easy to follow, the picture and sound is good, and there are minimal hiccups or interruptions.

Another option is to get up in the wee hours of the early morning and drink beers at select taverns and watch live telecasts amidst partisan revelers. A list of North American pubs that carry the Tests – plus the rest of the world – can be found here.

The Fox Soccer Channel in the United States and Fox Sports World Canada are both televising the games two-or-three times per week on tape delay, usually two days after the live matches. You can view their .pdf schedules by clicking through the link on the Fox websites.

Radio New Zealand International carries live broadcasts of the Tests on short wave radio services broadcast to the Pacific. The signals can easily be received here in the North-east and the Pacific region. Kick-off time is 3:10 am ET Saturday morning or just after midnight PT on 9885 kHz.

And lastly, you can track live scoring from Rugby Planet, the BBC, or TVNZ.

Starting line-ups and reserves:

All Blacks

Mils Muliaina
Rico Gear
Tana Umaga (c)
Aaron Mauger
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Daniel Carter
Byron Kelleher
Rodney So'oialo
Richie McCaw
Jerry Collins
Ali Williams
Chris Jack
Carl Hayman Greg Somerville
Tony Woodcock

Reserves: Derren Witcombe, Greg Somerville Campbell Johnstone, Jono Gibbes, Sione Lauaki, Justin Marshall, Ma'a Nonu, Leon MacDonald.

Lions

Josh Lewsey
Jason Robinson
Gareth Thomas (c)
Gavin Henson
Shane Williams
Jonny Wilkinson
Dwayne Peel
Ryan Jones
Lewis Moody
Simon Easterby
Donncha O'Callaghan
Paul O'Connell
Julian White
Steve Thompson
Gethin Jenkins

Reserves: Shane Byrne, Graham Rowntree, Martin Corry, Martyn Williams, Matt Dawson, Stephen Jones, Shane Horgan.